What is Postmodernism?


The very term “postmodernism” can be translated as “after modernity”. But you can not perceive this flow so unambiguously. If such trends as modernism, realism, romanticism, as a rule, were expressed mainly in art and literature, postmodernism is an expression of the whole state of the human soul, its perception of the world. What is postmodernism? It can not be considered a current in art, this concept is used to refer to all the specific trends in the spiritual life of civilization. The definition of postmodernism is ambiguous – it is a way of self-expression, the consciousness of all mankind.

The main features of postmodernism are the opposition to realistic culture, light irony and self-irony, the denial of all norms and rules, the use of ready-made forms.

Postmodernism arose as a stand-off against modernity and almost simultaneously with it in the early 20th century, but experienced its heyday in the second half of the century. Already

in 1917, the term “postmodernism” was first used in an article criticizing Nietzsche’s theory of the superman-demigod.

Postmodernism in literature and painting

In literature, for the first time the notes of postmodernism were manifested in the novel “Steppe Wolf” by Herman Gasse. By the way, this novel became a handbook of hippies – one of the most brilliant teachings, the followers of which expressed protest and ridicule over the militaristic world. Also, representatives of postmodernism in literature are Jorge Borges, Umberto Eco, Victor Pelevin, Tatyana Tolstaya.

By the way, Umberto Eco’s novel “The Name of the Rose” has been filmed and one can see firsthand what postmodernism is. The first film in the style of postmodern is the horror film “Urodtsy.” But the most vivid representative of postmodern cinema was Quentin Tarantino.

In painting, postmodern artists proclaimed the main idea, where there is no particular difference between the original and the copy. What they successfully demonstrated, creating their own pictures, transforming and rethinking what has already been created. The brightest representatives of this trend in painting: Joseph Beuys, M. Merz, V. Komar and A. Melamid. In architecture, this is J. Stirling, C. Janks.

Postmodernism is a kind of continuation of avant-garde experiments. If you are interested in modern currents, read the article What is the avant-garde.

Our section Culture will acquaint you with other trends in painting, literature or philosophy.


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What is Postmodernism?